or no deal? americans are waiting and worried about when washington will get its act together and find some kind of agreement on taxes and spending. tonight the president's position as he sits down exclusively with nbc news. here we go again. another big winter storm blankets the northeast. tonight the latest on where it's headed and how it's affecting holiday travel. high profits from marijuana, at least that's what some entrepreneurs are hoping for as they see big potential in states where pot is legal. and can't stay away. what happened when the parents of one college student just couldn't let go? she gave them a lesson they never expected.

>> good evening. the deadline looms less than three days away now and still no sign that congressional leaders have come up with a deal to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff. the president again today called on lawmakers to act before taxes automatically go up for every american and spending cuts kick in. but republicans aren't happy with the proposal the white house is offering. so on a saturday night, washington is still at a stalemate and the public is pretty clearly growing frustrated. david gregory sat down exclusively with the president today. he'll share some insight in just a moment. first we go to nbc's kristen welker at the white house on a where the talks stand. >> reporter: good evening. sources close to the talks say there is more pessimism tonight with democrats and republicans still unable to reach a compromise, particularly over

the issue of taxes. but senate negotiators aren't giving up. they're still hopeful for a breakthrough before that all important tuesday deadline. with time running out, key staffers huddled behind closed doors against the backdrop of a snowy capitol trying to hammer out a last-minute deal. in his weekly address, president obama pushed lawmakers to act. >> we cannot let washington politics get in the way of america's progress. >> reporter: mr. obama met with top party leaders friday, calling on them to either reach a compromise or allow a vote on his plan that would among other things raise taxes on those making more than $250,000. >> i believe such a proposal could pass both houses with bipartisan majorities as long as these leaders allow it to come to a vote. >> reporter: missouri senator roy blount delivered the republican response sharply criticizing the president's proposal. >> the president's proposal to raise taxes on the top 2% of

americans won't even pay one-third of the annual interest now owed on the massive $16 trillion debt. >> reporter: in the political cliff hanger sources close to the talks say senate leaders harry reid and mitch mcconnell are drafting a small plan that could include extending unemployment insurance benefits pro-tkting about 30 million americans from paying the alternative minimum tax and allowing tax rates to increase on the wealthiest americans, but this issue remains a major sticking point with many republicans resisting any tax increase at all. economists say the last-minute process calls into question washington's ability to deal with the hard issues of tax reform and deficit reduction. >> the prospects for the economy are incredibly dim until we put in place a bigger deal, tackle these challenges, and put some certainty into the economy and boost confidence. >> reporter: meanwhile, americans watched with worry and frustration. >> i think they're all failing us a great deal and i'm so sick and tired of them fighting. >> the equivalent of worried about your mortgage after you're already homeless. so it's, like i said, sad.

they have a job to do and they're not doing it. >> reporter: now, with public pressure mounting, the house and senate are expected to be back in session tomorrow, ready for a vote that could impact the economy for better or for worse. kate? >> kristen welker at the white house. nbc's moderator of "meet the press" david gregory joins me now. as we've said, david, you sat down with president obama this afternoon for an exclusive interview that airs tomorrow morning, but give us a hint. is he optimistic? do you come away with any hope that we're going to have a deal before the deadline? >> i'd say a couple things. i think the president continues to be optimistic, but he, i think, in part is doing the interview on "meet the press" because he wants to keep the pressure on republicans to get something done and made very clear in the course of the interview that there is a political cost to be paid if there is not a deal, a cost that i think he believes will be paid mostly by republicans if they don't get something done. he's gone out of his way to really cast his argument as one

of protecting the middle class and that the middle class, 98% of americans don't want to see their taxes go up. if there is a failure to act. that said, the president did not strike me as overly worried about going over the cliff. both confident that they'll get a deal done and if not even though it would be a more politically charged atmosphere coming back after they've gone over the cliff to again try to at least deal with the tax portion of all of this. >> they must be aware of the frustration out there. you heard it in kristen welker's piece. again, people are angry, frustrated, they want this done. it doesn't seem like anybody is going to win on either side, republican or democrat. >> well, no. there are no winners in all of this. i can tell you in our most recent history last summer with the debt debacle, the white house feeling was, well, republicans would be blamed. the president suffered some real political damage as well. that said, the president's view on this is that republicans have a lot more to lose. i can tell you going beyond this interview, talking to white

house advisers over these past many months, there is a view that the strength of his argument, having campaigned on taxes and letting -- having wealthy americans pay more, it is now a matter of principle for this president. a leadership principle that he does not want to back away from. from that point of view he is much more dug in. but let's remind people that all the dysfunction we're talking about here, even if it's overcome immediately, there is still going to be a huge fight over the debt ceiling again next month. >> okay. we'll look forward to that one. david gregory. you can watch david's exclusive interview of course with president obama in its entirety tomorrow morning right here on "meet the press." the senate has managed to get something passed. a recovery package to help pay for reconstruction after hurricane sandy. the bill provides more than $60 billion to help areas devastated by the storm but it is not a done deal just yet. the house still has to vote on the package. and now to the other big story we're following, another winter blast moving through the

northeast tonight bringing up to a foot of snow in some places. the weather channel's julie martin is at laguardia airport here in new york. julie, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, kate. well, another winter storm for thousands of travelers making their way home from the christmas holiday to ring in the new year. today a winter storm moved quickly northeast dumping snow from the ohio valley up through parts of new england. the storm did not bring with it blockbuster snowfall but it was a quick hitter that came down hard and fast, forcing some commuters to get creative. >> by ski and then by bus later. >> reporter: stranding others. >> once the snow starts, until the plows come by, you're pretty much stuck. >> reporter: the low visibility on highways caused several car accidents and prompted road closures in new york and pennsylvania. creating problems for more than 20 million people traveling between christmas and new

year's. the weather channel's mike seidel was in harrisburg this afternoon. >> reporter: for many in pennsylvania this is the third time they had to shovel snow this week, some picking up another 4 to 6 inches. over in philadelphia everyone for the first time in the season got a coating of white. >> reporter: as the storm continues to move north, the heaviest snowfall about 6 to 12 inches is expected to reach boston, cape cod, and providence, rhode island later this evening. and, kate, this storm did cut a wide swath through the country dumping rain and snow as it worked its way here into the northeast. now on average, we did see about an inch of snow in oklahoma and arkansas, about 6 inches in southern illinois, much of indiana. the heavier amounts are expected to happen tonight into new england. that's about 6 to 10 inches. the storm is moving fast. it's on its way to southern new england tonight. so if you're living near boston or to its east, do want to get your shovels ready. it will reach its peek near boston and cape cod and then

fizzle out tomorrow around noon. but there is another storm waiting in the wings. this one for new year's day. that will be in the midwest. so we'll be watching for that carefully as well. kate? >> here we go again. julie martin with the weather channel, thanks so much. turning overseas to a story that has shocked the world. today six men were charged with murder in india after a young woman who was gang raped, beaten, and thrown off a moving bus died of her injuries. throughout india people have been protesting her treatment, today with peaceful gatherings, but unbelievably similar attacks against women continue. we have the latest from london. >> we want justice! >> reporter: in cities across the country today indians took to the streets demanding justice for one woman and greater respect for all others. the 23-year-old was gang raped and beaten and then attacked and it started a national debate about the abuse of women. last night she died in a

singapore hospital where she was taken for emergency treatment. >> she seccumbed to her injuries because the scale of those injuries was very grave. >> reporter: the medical student was on this bus in new delhi with a male friend when she was attacked by six men using an iron rod. both were stripped and thrown on to the road. it triggered violent protests across india where sexual assaults against women are increasing. in july a student was filmed being viciously attacked while a crowd watched on. even young girls are learning self-defense while praying for change. >> it deepens our determination to battle the pervasive, shameful social attitudes and mindsets that allow men to rape and molest women and girls with such impunity. >> reporter: the six men have been charged with murder, but experts say most sex crimes go unreported and many offenders

unpunished. this week a 17-year-old girl killed herself after the police failed to arrest her rapists. >> we're not going to stop here. you know? we see this as a struggle for a better and safer society for women. >> reporter: the indian government is promising to respond, saying the young woman's death will not have been in vain. nbc news, london. startling images out of russia tonight where a plane broke into pieces after sliding off a runway. the jet, belonging to the russian airline red wings, veered on to a snowy field and a highway after landing it broke apart, caught fire, killing at least four crew members and injuring four others. the plane had flown back from the czech republic and was not carrying any passengers. back in this country, in arizona controversial sheriff joe arpaio is making headlines again tonight with a proposal to station armed posses outside public schools. arpaio says he wants to place

the volunteers at 50 schools in the phoenix area within a week, although arizona law currently prohibits carrying guns on public school grounds. the idea follows of course the school shootings in newtown, connecticut and the nra's call to station armed officers at public schools. and the first step toward a potential lawsuit in connecticut after the shootings at sandy hook elementary. paperwork has been filed for a $100 million claim on behalf of one of the children who lived through the tragedy. a lawyer for the 6-year-old survivor claims she sustained emotional and physical trauma as a result of hearing the assault over the school intercom. it faults the board of education among others for failing to protect the children from, quote, foreseeable harm. in orlando last night a show of solidarity with the newtown victims at the russell athletic bowl. in their game with rutgers virginia tech's players wore a large ribbon on their helmets that read, "58 prevail." it was a reference to the total

number of victims from both the newtown, connecticut shootings and the virginia tech shootings. an update tonight on former president george h.w. bush who has been hospitalized in houston since the day after thanksgiving. a statement from his office says mr. bush's condition has improved and so he has been moved out of intensive care and into a regular room to continue his recovery. the former president has been treated for bronchitis and had a fever this week. when "nightly news" continues on this saturday, with marijuana laws relaxed, how some entrepreneurs are seeing high potential in pot. and later, though he has never played football, why this young man may have a real leg up on making the nfl. [ male announcer ] this is steve. he loves risk. but whether he's climbing everest, scuba diving the great barrier reef with sharks, or jumping into the market, he goes with people he trusts, which is why he trades with a company that doesn't nickel and dime him with hidden fees. so he can worry about other things, like what the market is doing

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that's florida. say louisiana or there's no dessert. brought to you by bp and all of us who call the gulf home. back now with a business story involving potentially high profits. now that both colorado and washington state have made the use of marijuana legal, some entrepreneurs are seeing pot as a growth industry. they call it the green rush. there is a big question mark. how will the federal government respond? the story tonight from nbc's justice correspondent, pete williams. >> reporter: in seattle entrepreneur brendon kennedy is putting his yale mba to work at what is apparently the nation's first private equity firm focused solely on marijuana. he is counting on the growing acceptance of it first for medical and now recreational use to fuel a boom. >> it is an industry that is in desperate need of professionalism. >> reporter: his group's maiden effort is this website, a

service offering reader reviews of hundreds of different strains of marijuana, along with where to get them. >> it's a chance to create an entire new industry. you don't get opportunities like that many times in your lifetime. everything will be created from scratch. >> reporter: one study says the marijuana market is worth $2 billion a year and could reach $9 billion in five years, eventually doubling to $20 billion. but there is a huge catch. growing, selling, and using marijuana is still against federal law. as a result, banks won't do business with the marijuana trade. no checking accounts, no convenient way to pay salaries, and no ability to accept credit cards since they're controlled by banks. and no one in the marijuana industry can deduct expenses from their federal taxes as any other business can. >> the federal government has a long history of being very, very opposed to marijuana, and i don't think that's going to change so easily, and so you could start in on this and find out that it's years or decades before it actually becomes a

legal process. >> reporter: justice department lawyers will soon decide whether to sue the marijuana states. the government is waiting to see how the new recreational laws actually work and what effect they'll have on the flow of illegal drugs from mexico. >> we have treaty obligations out with nations outside the united states, a whole variety of things that have to go into the determination that we're in the process of making. >> reporter: adding to the uncertainty for entrepreneurs like brendan kennedy in a risky business. pete williams, nbc news, washington. up next, when parents can't let go. the extreme measures taken by one young woman to help keep her folks away. okay, here's the plan. you have a plan? first we're gonna check our bags for free, thanks to our explorer card. then, the united club. my mother was so wrong about you. next, we get priority boarding on our flight i booked with miles. all because of the card. and me. okay, what's the plan? plan? mm-hmm. we're on vacation. there is no plan.

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so this is what christmas eve looks like far, far away. these are the latest pictures from mars, taken on december 24th and throughout the past week by nasa's "curiosity" rover. the new photos also include the best self-portrait we've seen of the rover made by compositing more than 50 separate images. by the way, in case you were wondering about the weather on mars the latest readings showed a high temperature of 23 degrees and a low of 85 below zero. lots of families are spending time together over the holidays of course including those with college students, home on break. but what happens when they head back to school? you've heard of over protective helicopter parents. the story you're about to hear is the most extreme version -- so overbearing they drove a young college student in ohio to take an newer step. here's nbc's michelle franzen. ♪ >> reporter: aubry ireland is pursuing her dreams -- studying singing and acting at university

of cincinnati college conservatory of music -- a passion she says her parents shared and supported. aubry even posted photos on facebook with her parents following performances. but the senior college student says her parents need to keep constant watch over her went too far -- to the point where aubry went to court, asked a judge to grant a stalking order against her parents, and won. in court documents, the 21-year-old told a judge her parents, julie and david, frequently drove from their home in kansas to her campus in ohio, unannounced, to check up on her. they told her and college officials she had mental problems and they could try to have her evaluated. in the filing, she said her parents traveled to cincinnati, showed up at my university, and made threats to my musical theater department and added, they also improperly monitored my phone and computer with tracking software. it is an unusual case, experts say, that goes beyond what's

known as the helicopter and overprotective parent. >> the helicopter parent is overly involved, maybe intrusive, but they understand their child is a separate human being. the toxic parent doesn't understand that. they're overly suffocating. they view their child as an object. >> reporter: the "cincinnati enquirer" reported the prestigious music program offered aubry a scholarship for her final year when her parents stopped paying tuition and wanted their daughter to pay them back for her first three years at the university. the judge ordered the parents to stay at least 500 feet away from their daughter until september of 2013. meanwhile, the show goes on for ireland, still performing and set to graduate in the spring. michelle franzen, nbc news, chicago. when we come back, the man who might make it to the nfl even though he's never played football. [ male announcer ] imagine facing the day

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get coricidin hbp. the number one pharmacist recommended cold brand designed for people with high blood pressure. and the only one i use to relieve my cold symptoms without raising my blood pressure. coricidin hbp. after our brief mention last night of a young man and his fancy footwork we wanted to know more about what made him kick. how his viral video may have given him a leg up on a potential nfl contract though he has never played a game of football in his life. we asked nbc's jenna wolf to take a closer look. >> reporter: it's a moving target, any moving target, and

there is a good chance he has kicked a football to or from it. so impressive you'd think he has been kicking a pigskin his entire life. you'd be wrong. >> i bought the football in april, 2011. >> reporter: the 28-year-old who hails from norway only turned to football after his soccer league disbanded. >> i needed a new hobby so the last few years i watched the super bowl and i thought, well, i'd maybe try and play american football and do some kicking. >> reporter: on the phone from norway today rugland admitted he knows next to nothing about foball, but he does know how to draw attention. since posting it on youtube back in september, the left footer's video has been viewed more than 1.7 million times. >> i did not expect this, not even close. >> reporter: whether or not you believe the tricks in this video, the power is impressive. this first-time footballer went out and kicked the ball six times in a row for 50 yards. that's the distance between me and you.

but it wasn't just a youtube hit. the nfl came calling as well. rugland and his newly acquired agent say they were approached by the new york jets who gave him a workout right before christmas. >> no offer has been made yet but they want me to come back. >> reporter: as for football fans? the reviews are mixed. can you see a guy like this playing in the nfl? >> absolutely. >> reporter: you can. >> but can he take a hit? obviously rex ryan sees something in him. >> reporter: would you be surprised if a guy who really has never played football before in his life started on an nfl team next season? >> yes. i would be very surprised. >> reporter: and you? >> i'd be shocked. >> reporter: former new orleans saints hall of fame kicker morton anderson says while rugland's video is head turning he may not be quite ready for primetime. >> what i admire about this guy is his moxy. however, there is a long way from norway and kicking a football into a canoe when nobody is watching but his buddy and the canoe to an nfl field. >> reporter: whether his foot lands him in the nfl or not, for

a little while at least this unknown prospect from norway is getting a taste of the american dream. nbc news, new york. and that is nbc nightly news for this saturday. hope to see you right back here again tomorrow. good night.